Table Of ContentHACKING:
Learn Hacking FAST! Ultimate Course Book for Beginners
Gary Mitnick
© 2016
© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
Third Edition: January 2016
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written
permission from the author or copyright holder except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
Although the author has exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the
information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any
inconsistency herein. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. Reader should use their own
judgment and/or consult a programming expert for specific applications to their individual needs.
Published by Waxed Publishing
Dedications
For computer nerds and to those who are striving for something more.
Table of Contents
Introduction
FREE BONUS
Chapter 1 – Hacking into the Hacker World
What is hacking?
The Effects of Hacking in the world
Welcome to the Digital World (Hack)
Second Method of Entry
Welcome to the Digital World (Hack 2)
Chapter 2 – Foundations
Classifications of Hackers
Hacking Tools
Run Windows Programs without Installing Them (Hack)
Chapter 3 – Ethical Vs. Unethical
Ethical Hacking
Unethical Hacking
Shutdown Timer (Hack)
Shutdown Timer (Hack 2)
Chapter 4 – Rewards
Careers in Hacking
Hacking as a Hobby
Create a Hidden/Invisible Folder (Hack)
Chapter 5 – War, State of Hack
Creating a Keylogger (Hack)
Protecting Against Keyloggers
Further Safety Tips
Chapter 6 – Exploring Beyond
Programming Languages
Command Line
Continuous Learning
Further Resources
FREE BONUS
Conclusion
Introduction
When people hear the word hacking, usually one image stands out in their head, that of a dishonest loner sitting in a
messy room taking sips of coffee trying to gain access to something that doesn’t belong to them. As the media
portrays it, what else would a hacker do besides try to break into a company’s firewall or break the code to gain
access to government files? Over the years the news has been reporting their hacking stories with added over the top
nonsense involving car explosions, death threats, and gay porn.
By definition, a hacker is a person who looks for security holes and weaknesses, then exploits them to break into a
computer system or network in order to get unauthorized information or to inflict intentional damage, but thinking
that hacking is only about breaking into a system with malicious intent misses a large part of what the hacking
community is about.
You don’t have to be a bad person to be a hacker and being a hacker does not make you unethical. It does not turn
you dishonest it turns you prepared and adds to your online security. We want to invite you to take a look inside this
hidden world full of pixels and programs, sided with benefits, challenges, and that awesome feeling of
accomplishment. By the end of this book you will have a good feel of what it takes to be a hacker, you will also have
the personal knowledge to keep your devices protected from outsiders.
Taking part in this eBook and actively participating is a great way to know if hacking is right for you. You can
potentially turn hacking into your new full blown hobby or your next big paycheck career! Either way it goes we
want you to enjoy yourself, so let’s soak up these words like a tree soaks up water. Are you ready?
“Being a hacker means making a computer do what you want, whether it wants to or not” - unknown
Chapter 1 – Hacking into the Hacker World
What is hacking?
The word hacking has quite a buzz to it in the online world, and with good reason. Hacking has been around for a
long time tracing all the way back to 1878 just 2 years after the phone line was invented, but it wasn’t until the early
1980’s that hacking began to be frowned upon as computers progressed and grew in popularity. In 1983 the first
convictions for a computer crime took place, Gerald Wondra and 2 other members of the hacking collective 414
(Timothy D. Winslow and Michael J. Wesolowski) plead guilty to “harassing telephone calls” and were sentenced to
2 years’ probation. At the time, no laws against computer crimes existed, prosecutors struggled to find a criminal
charge that fit the crime and harassing telephone calls was the closest thing that could be applied.
Hacking is in its simplest form, the action of looking for security holes and weaknesses (vulnerabilities) in computer
systems, networks, and web applications. It requires skills and knowledge of operating systems, databases, and
programming languages as well as a participation of continuous learning to implement in the field. Hacking is also
known as Penetration Testing or Pen Testing when done ethically or offered as a service from security consultants.
The way hacking skills are put to use depend entirely on morals. The term used for ill hacking is subbed
“Cracking”.
As technology moves forward and becomes more complex so does hacking. Hacking can be described as a form of
art and a way of expression. You have undoubtedly heard of phones, tablets and computers being hacked, but it
doesn’t stop there. Here is a short list of things that can be hacked apart from the more traditional devices:
- MacBook batteries – This was discovered by Charlie Miller in 2011. Hacked MacBook batteries had a
possibility of overheating and at worst case scenario one could cause the battery to explode. (Findings were reported
to Apple and patched)
- Cars – Vehicle disablement, tire pressure system hacking, and disabling brakes are all possible.
- Computer camera – Webcams may be a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, but they also
pose risks of people hacking into them and spying on you.
- ATMs – ATM scams are on the rise worldwide. Statistically, Russia comes in number 1 with the most
reported ATM infections followed by the U.S.
- Airport security monitors – Though not impossible with the right credentials and machine, you could
upload custom images to cover banned items otherwise seen through x-ray.
- Vending machines – Some are now accepting credit cards. Although unethical to do, old vending machines
(early 2000’s models) could still be “hacked” through the old tape on a dollar and sliding out trick.
The Effects of Hacking in the world
Hacking has brought both positive and negative effects to the world. It has improved the online security of online
businesses, organizations, and government associations. On the other side of the spectrum, it has cost millions of
dollars in damages and repairs such as the case with Sony who in 2011, reported a loss of $170 million due to being
hacked. One could however say that because of those damages and repairs, hacking has pushed online security to
another level.
Every year annual reports reveal deep financial losses caused to being breached. The amount of the total loss equates
to the amount of time and money it took to resolve issues, such as repairs for security systems, addressing lawsuits,
and repaying customer losses. While the motives of breaking into a secured network vary from corporate espionage
to political insubordination or just plain robbery the personal or political information gained from hacking into other
networks can serve as an advantage in a business or political setting. Some companies and organizations steal
information from other’s businesses through their secret security operations; they could take anything from private
research, business strategies, financial reports, customer information from databases; as well as sabotage competition
through deletion of data, anonymous leaks of information or modification of important files.
The act of hacking has contributed to the advancement of online security, which has led to several breakthroughs in
software protection. The usual pattern follows as hackers manage to break into a system (ethically or unethically)
which then gets updated and patched, later the improved security then gets hacked again (ethically or unethically)
and later updated and patched and the cycle repeats. With every successful infiltration stronger security comes along.
Welcome to the Digital World (Hack)
To receive a big and warm welcome from your computer and officially start the first hack, you will be using your
Window’s Notepad application for the following:
1. Open up your Windows Notepad. You can find it by clicking the windows button and searching for
“Notepad” on the search bar.
2. In your Notepad type in with exact formatting:
Dim speaks, speech
speaks="Welcome to your PC,Username"
Set speech=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
speech.Speak speaks
3. Replace “username” with your name or anything you would like your pc to communicate, for example:
Dim speaks, speech
speaks=”Welcome to your PC,Gary”
4. Click on File Menu - Save As – “Save as Type” - select “all files”. Save the file as Welcome.vbs
5. After saving, right click and copy this file.
6. Now if you are a windows XP user, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\
Programs\Startup.
If you are in Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista navigate to C:\Users\ {User-Name}\AppData\
Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Note:AppData is a hidden folder. So, you will need to select show hidden folders in folder options to locate
it.
7. Paste the file that you copied earlier “welcome.vbs” to “\startup”.
\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Perk/achievement:At startup time you will be greeted by your computer. You can customize the message
between both parentheses to get a more personal greeting beyond your name.
Second Method of Entry
Alternatively, if you are having trouble for windows 8.0 and above you can access your startup folder by
hitting the Window’s button on your keyboard and the “R” key. Hitting Windows+R.
On the new screen which will look like this:
Type %appdata% and hit enter. This will take you to “C:\Users\<User-Name>\AppData\Roaming”.
Now navigate to the following “ > Microsoft > Windows > Start Menu > Programs > Startup”
The path should now look like this:
“C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup”
